I am creating a water clock for a class project. I have a flower pot filled with water that drips water into a glass vase under it. The glass vase contains a wooden dowel and cork attachment. The goal is for the dowel and cork to float in the water as the vase fills with water. This is not happening. I have changed the wooden dowel to straws. I assumed that that wood was too heavy, but I am still experiencing the same problem. The cork is not floating in the water, therefore I can't measure the level of water. I am sure I could just simply measure with a ruler, but it would take away from the project. I am trying to avoid cutting the cork. Not sure if that is the issue. Any suggestions on what I could use instead of a cork?

So the cork will not float in water at all? Do you have another Cork that you could try? You could try something made out of foam. Do you have an old water noodle or flip flop that you could cut up? You could glue the dowel (or straw) to a ping pong ball or a ruber ducky =).